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Brothers for Life Qaumi arrested

A significant development for NSW police after they arrested 'Brothers for Life' gang member, Farhad Qaumi yesterday afternoon on the Central coast. It's thought the arrest marks the demise of the gang.

"Police will allege that two of the men were actively involved in directing many of the gang's illegal activities and believe their arrests will seriously disrupt the group's criminal agendas," police said in a statement.

Police laid 19 charges, including firearm, drug and gang offences. And, while none of the charges related to the six shootings currently being investigated, police expected more charges to follow.

Farhad and Mumtaz Qaumi appeared in Wyong Local Court on Thursday.

Neither man was legally represented and neither applied for bail.

Farhad Qaumi, from Chittaway Bay, was dressed in a black Lacoste polo top while Mumtaz, from Wyong, wore a red Polo Sport T-shirt. Both men were accompanied by extra security.

Both brothers are charged with possessing a 0.38 Smith and Wesson model 10 revolver, a 12-gauge shortened Mossberg pump-action shotgun, supplying 1134.2 grams of a drug known as "nexus", supplying 760.22 grams of bromo DMA, supplying 150.85 grams of cocaine and knowingly directing the activities of the Blacktown chapter of the Brothers 4 Life criminal gang. The last charge has the dates from July 13, 2013 to January 8, 2014.

They were remanded in custody and will reappear in Central Local Court next month.

"We pretty much know what has happened with just about all of the shootings that have occurred in Sydney in the last 12 months," Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas told the media on Thursday morning.

"We do have a large number of people who are talking to us and we've mapped out exactly what's happened. If you have been involved in any of these events, any of these incidents, any of this crime, you need to think about coming forward now before we come to you."

Police said there were 54 shootings into premises last year, which was a 54 per cent reduction on the 98 shootings in 2012.

"That is the lowest number of incidents since 2000, so over a 14-year period," Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate said.

Deputy Commissioner Kaldas said it was difficult to know how many Brothers 4 Life members were left but estimated they had arrested more than half.

"Our sense is that the numbers are certainly small and shrinking by the day," he said.

He said "speculation that this is the end of the group is probably premature" but that the arrest of Mr Qaumi would seriously disrupt the gang.

"It will be alleged that he is a leader of the group and a leader of the faction that has been involved in most of the shootings that have occurred in Sydney over the last three or four months," he said.

Farhad Qaumi was on board the 105-foot motor yacht Oscar II as it pulled into Rose Bay wharf about 11.30pm on New Year's Day when an unknown gunman or gunmen opened fire on the vessel.

He was struck in the shoulder by one of at least 18 bullets that hit the yacht, which is available for hire for $2400 an hour in high season or $95,000 a week.

But rather than seek immediate medical treatment, Mr Qaumi is believed to have left the shooting scene in a taxi, and was found injured in Bondi less than two hours later.

He was treated by paramedics and taken to St Vincent's Hospital, but discharged himself the following morning. He refused to speak to police.

Mr Amiri was charged with attempting to possess an unauthorised pistol, supplying a large amount of drugs and participating in a criminal group.

He was also refused bail at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday.

Police said Operation Talon would continue on Thursday night with a significant number of police officers targeting those suspected of drive-by shooting offences.